RPI Scores Seven Unanswered to Down Potsdam

TROY, N.Y. – RPI scored seven unanswered goals in the second half and went on to defeat Potsdam State, 12-4 in non-conference action at Renwyck Field. With the win, the Engineers remain undefeated and move to 5-0. The Bears slip to 2-3 on the young season.

After a slow start to open the game, the Engineers broke out onto the scoreboard as senior Laura Connor (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) scored her first of the season on the free position at 20:44.

Rensselaer continued to threaten, but an outstanding play by Bears' netminder Kaci Milligan (Liverpool, NY/Bishop Ludden), held the home team at bay. Called for a foul on a play in the zone, Milligan was forced to vacate the net for an RPI free position attempt. Potsdam was called for another quick foul, which allowed the goalie to move up closer, but the net remained empty. RPI's Julia Wright (Bedford, NH/Bishop Guertin) attempted the shot down the middle, but Milligan sprang into action, swiping the ball out of the air and clearing it out of the zone.

Despite the solid play, the Bears could not hold off the Engineers for long as senior Madeline Sisson (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) made it a 2-0 lead at 10:37 off a feed from junior Shannon Maguire (Randolph, NJ/Randolph).

The Engineers continued to capitalize late in the stanza as goals from sophomore Rachel Scofield (Albany, NY/South Colonie), Connor and Maguire within 1:10 of one another gave Rensselaer a 5-0 advantage with 2:34 to play.

In the second half of action, the visiting Bears quickly threatened off the opening draw on a quick shot by freshman Katie Putnam (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango), but the Engineers responded following the clear by goalie Allie Arnal (Lakewood, NY/Phillips Exeter Academy) as Maguire rifled it in for a 6-0 lead.

On the next possession, sophomore Marissa Page (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) increased the advantage to 7-0. RPI continued to roll as Maguire, sophomore Meg Colitz (East Greenwich, RI/LaSalle Academy) and Sisson pushed it to a 10-0 score and force the mercy-rule running clock.

Holding an 11-0 lead, the Bears responded and finally got past Arnal as Margaret Wall (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) broke through the defense with at 15:42 to make it a 10-goal game. Senior Sierra LangKammerer (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) then halted the running clock at 12:05 as she battled her way into the zone for a shot into the left corner.

The Bears added a goal in the final minute of the game off a great individual effort by freshman Emily Petit (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) and Wall added her second with 18 seconds left, but it wasn't enough as RPI held on for the victory.

In addition to Maguire, who had three goals and an assist, the Engineers got two goals and two assists from Sisson and a pair of tallies from Connor. Page had a goal and an assist, as did rookie Jamie Wakefield (Windsor, CT/Windsor).

In goal, Arnal moved to 5-0, stopping six shots in 47:55 of action. She was relieved by senior Muryum Khalid (Avon, CT/Miss Porter's), who made two saves in 9:13, while rookie Erin Amarello (Griswold, CT/St. Bernard School) did not make any stops in the final 2:52.

For the Bears, Wall had two goals, while Milligan made nine saves in the loss in goal.

The Engineers return to the field next weekend, opening their Liberty League schedule at Rochester and RIT on Friday (4:00 pm) and Saturday (2:00 pm), respectively. The Bears are right back in action tomorrow with a game at Morrisville State (12:00 p.m.).